However, when she opened the door again and saw the scene before her, Niu Shurui froze.

Ye Li looked like a lost child, separated from his parents, radiating anxiety and unease. He sat huddled on the floor, arms wrapped around his legs, forehead pressed against his knees, his face completely buried.

Hearing the door open, he looked up, just as he always did. Tears streamed down his face, a silent, suppressed weeping. But unlike usual, he didn't rush to embrace her.

Niu Shurui's heart lurched.

She crouched down and took his hand. His hands, usually burning hot, were icy, sending a chill through her.

“I…” she began, but the words caught in her throat. All her carefully planned arguments vanished, leaving only a blank space. Yet, she knew with unwavering certainty that she hadn't yielded. Even though Ye Li's distress tugged at her heart, she understood it was unhealthy, a manipulation she couldn't indulge. She remained silent, and so did Ye Li. Looking into his dark, shining eyes, Niu Shurui realized he was trying to break her resolve.

He’d tasted success. Like a crying child rewarded with sweets and affection.

Finally, Niu Shurui spoke, her voice gentle but firm, “You need to adapt.”

Ye Li’s eyes widened, and the tears flowed harder. He’d been waiting for her to give in, and she’d seen it, yet she hadn’t. Why?

The tears, initially feigned for sympathy, now flowed uncontrollably, a genuine expression of his distress. The satisfaction of their physical intimacy was replaced by a dawning realization.

He now understood that Niu Shurui’s actions weren't as simple as they appeared. She seemed to be compromising, but in reality, he was the one yielding.

Why? Why, when he poured his entire being into her, did she hold back? He only wanted a place in her heart. Why was such a simple request impossible for her to fulfill?

What was she thinking? Was she still thinking of Qiao Qi? He wouldn’t allow it. His body and soul belonged to her, and she must be the same.

He wouldn't let her escape.

She was an absolute void, and he would never be satisfied.

For a fleeting moment, the look in Ye Li’s eyes changed, then vanished in the blink of an eye.

Just as Niu Shurui sensed something shift, Ye Li took her hand and pressed it against his cheek.

The gesture told her he agreed, he would adapt. Niu Shurui breathed a sigh of relief and brushed the tears from the corners of his eyes with her knuckles.

His damp skin spoke volumes about the difficult decision he'd just made.

The change had been hard-won. Niu Shurui took his hand. “Let’s eat.”

He gave a small acknowledgment and let her lead him to the bed.

Niu Shurui noticed that Ye Li had already set everything up, but instead of pulling the table closer to the bed as usual, he’d placed a portable table on the bed itself.

She glanced at him questioningly, but he remained silent, head down, seemingly still lost in his earlier sadness. Deciding not to dwell on it, Niu Shurui sat down.

As usual, Ye Li wrapped himself around her. Accustomed to his possessiveness, she simply accepted the bowl he offered and drank.

She hadn’t had enough water and quickly finished the soup.

As they ate, Ye Li grew restless. He often touched her during meals, but never with this insistent exploration so early on.

Her thin silk robe offered little barrier, and every movement of his slightly cool hands sent shivers through her. His fingers pressed against her through the fabric. Held captive in his embrace, her thighs pressed together, preventing direct contact. He began to work the silk between them.

The fabric bunched, caught between the sensitive folds.

He playfully pulled more of the material into the crevice, the silk scraping against her most sensitive point. Niu Shurui instinctively tensed, trying to stop him. She reached for his hand, but he was relentless. "Ye Li!" she finally managed.

He withdrew his hand, soothingly kissing the skin behind her ear before offering her another bowl of soup.

Niu Shurui sighed, her attention now fully consumed by the foreign object between her legs. She opened her mouth and drank, attempting to tug at the hem of her robe.

As soon as her fingers touched the fabric, Ye Li captured her hand.

She frowned, wanting to speak, but the soup prevented her. She pulled back slightly, intending to finish her sentence.